Antique Row on South Dixie Highway includes the Cholo Soy Andean-American eatery and James & Jeffrey Antiques, which offers Continental designs.
Story by Mary Thurwachter
Photos by Ruth Cincotta
Considered one of the East Coast’s premier antique shopping destinations, the Antique Row Art & Design District (www.westpalmbeachantiques.com) in West Palm Beach is unique in Palm Beach County. It’s made up of more than 40 shops with 17th- to 20th-century antiques, fine and decorative arts, period deco, vintage and moderne furnishings. The antiques stores, specialty shops, art galleries and restaurants line South Dixie Highway between Belvedere Road and Southern Boulevard. Customers can park their cars and walk from shop to shop and have a gourmet lunch, too.
What else can you do there?
See design through the eyes of an artist. At Sean Rush Atelier (3700 S. Dixie Highway, www.seanrush.com) we found all kinds of treasures, many created by the artist/interior designer himself. Sean Rush’s equestrian oil painting is called His Noble Profile. The nude is I Circle The Sun Like A Shadow. It’s an oil and conté pencil work on a stained handmade French paper. The asking price for each is $10,000.
Be dazzled by vintage jewelry. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but some of the vintage costume jewelry at D. Brett Benson, Inc. (3616 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 120, www.dbrettbensoninc.com) made us giddy. And it’s a whole lot easier on the pocketbook. This Miriam Haskell necklace is $2,650. The bracelet is $1,395 and the earrings are only $185. That’s a lot of brilliance for the buck.
Chow down: Shopping makes us hungry. Not to worry: The antiques stores, specialty shops and art galleries on Antique Row are complemented by several restaurants. Among them are Belle & Maxwell’s (3700 S. Dixie Highway, www.belleandmaxwells.com) and Cholo Soy Cocina (3715 S. Dixie Highway, www.cholosoycocina.com).
Belle & Maxwell’s serves scrumptious salads, soups and desserts, and the décor is delightful with stained glass art, fresh flowers, antique furniture and a small patio. Cholo Soy Cocina (above) is a tiny, Andean-American eatery that serves tortillas and fresh ceviche. The backyard patio has picnic tables and colorful Andean murals.
Cozy up to the first prez. George Washington’s birthday is Feb. 22. Our nation’s first president was born 285 years ago. Wouldn’t it be great to have him over for a birthday dinner? Oh, the stories the founding father could tell! Since that’s not possible, perhaps an almost life-size statue would be a good compromise. We found this one at Authentic Provence (3735 S. Dixie Highway, www.authenticprovence.com). You could take it home for $28,000. It’s in pretty good shape, but imagine the price if George’s left hand weren’t missing!
Find antique furniture in subtle and soothing palettes of whites, beiges and grays. In Faustina Pace’s shop (3635 South Dixie Highway, www.faustinapace.com), you’ll find neutral-colored antiques that Pace collects in France, Sweden and Belgium. The whites, beiges and grays are easy to live with, she says. They are certainly easy to admire. We found ourselves lured in as we admired the window furnishings, with antique chairs, baskets and a desk in the neutral colors Pace’s shop promotes.
If you go
Evening on Antique Row, a benefit for the Historical Society of Palm Beach County sponsored by the Young Friends of the Historical Society, will be from 6-9 p.m. March 4 between Southern Boulevard and Monroe Drive. The event includes special entertainment, gourmet food tasting, beverages, live music and shopping. Tickets are $40 in advance or $65 the night of the event. Tickets for the VIP after-party from 8-11 p.m. are $100 in advance or $125 at the event. Info: www.hspbc.org
Antique Row is on South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach between Belvedere Road and Southern Boulevard. Info: www.westpalmbeachantiques.com
This is the first of three shopping areas The Coastal Star will check out this year. Next month, we’ll visit East Ocean Avenue in Lantana.
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